Research

Over the past few decades the practice of Tai Chi and Qigong has become increasingly popular. This trend has attracted the attention of medical researchers interested in assessing the health benefits of these meditative mind-body practices. Hundreds of research trials and studies have been conducted at universities and in healthcare settings across the country, and the research is ongoing.

Studies have investigated Tai Chi and Qigong as therapeutic interventions for a wide variety of health concerns including balance and fall prevention among the elderly, osteoarthritis and bone density, musculoskeletal pain, cancer, asthma, depression/anxiety and psychosocial wellbeing, immune system regulation, blood pressure and cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary disease, and diabetes.

Though the studies vary considerably in design and statistical significance and further investigation is warranted, the overarching conclusion among scientists is that Tai Chi and Qigong practice are safe and effective for many different medical conditions.

The inquiry into the health benefits of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong certainly reflects the wider exploration of mind-body medicine and the quest for empirical evidence to validate practices of self-cultivation. And with mounting evidence of the accumulated health benefits and progress in research methodology, it is likely that Tai Chi and Qigong will play a strong role in the emerging integrative medicine system as well as in prevention-based interventions in the evolving health care delivery systems.

Here is a listing of recent studies, systematic reviews, and resources for both Tai Chi and Qigong.

For centuries, Tai Chi has been purported not only to improve your health, but to help you live longer. While growing scientific evidence now supports that Tai Chi positively impacts many dimensions of health, including cardiovascular risk factors, fall-related serious injuries, and overall quality of life, until recently there was little scientific evidence of Tai Chi's impact on lifespan. The following landmark study conducted in Shanghai, China shows a strong association between practicing Tai Chi and an approximately 20% reduction in the risk of dying over a five-year period. The study is one finding within a rigorous epidemiological study of Chinese men -- The Shanghai Men's Health Study -- conducted between 2002 and 2009. Of note, the benefit of doing Tai Chi for preventing all-purpose mortality, as well as cardiovascular- and cancer-related mortality, was equivalent to the benefit of more aerobic jogging.

Within the realm of Tai Chi research many questions arise: how do we "measure" the benefits of Tai Chi? What methodology is most appropriate? This site is dedicated to the discussion of theory, methods, and challenges of researching wholistic medicine and wholistic practices such as Tai Chi Chuan. http://wholesystemsresearch.org/